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Spotlight | Riverhead

Sharks, Butterflies and a Ballroom

BRYAN DeLUCA, the executive director of the Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center, in Riverhead, knows exactly what has traditionally made the attraction, formerly Atlantis Marine World, a popular place to visit.

Because the aquarium is only 11 years old, “we’ve had the advantage of building all our exhibitions with interactive elements,” Mr. DeLuca said. “You can dive with sharks here, snorkel with tropical fish. At almost all the older aquariums, everything is behind the glass.”

Nevertheless, he acknowledges that “up to now, we’ve really been a day trip.”

Mr. DeLuca expects that to change, though, starting this month, with the name switch and the addition, within steps, of the Long Island Exhibition Center and a Hyatt Place hotel.

“Now you can come here, leave your keys with the valet at the Hyatt and literally not see your car for the entire weekend,” he said.

That may be an especially appealing idea, at least to begin with, for butterfly enthusiasts. The first exhibition at the center is called “Butterflies and Birds,” which opened July 1, bringing together thousands of winged creatures from all over the globe.

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WINGED BEAUTY The butterfly exhibit at the Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center.

“You meander through and see thousands of butterflies” in the 5,000-square-foot exhibition center, he said; birds, including parrots, and archerfish account for about a quarter of the exhibition.

“Most butterfly exhibitions are smaller, maybe 1,000 square feet, and they’re only open in summer,” said Mr. DeLuca, who has been visiting butterfly attractions regularly this year to better understand the creatures’ habitat. “Butterflies and Birds” could stay open several years, depending on the public’s reception, he said.

The expansion of the former Atlantis is a $24 million project that started taking shape five years ago. The hotel, the Hyatt Place Long Island/East End, has 100 rooms and the 28,000-square-foot Sea Star Grand Ballroom, which is expected to open later this summer.

An expanded catering operation will be able to accommodate more events anywhere on the seven-acre property, including special occasions like the five underwater shark-tank weddings held at the Atlantis since its opening.

“You could do things anywhere — something traditional and elegant in the new ballroom, or a canoe or a kayaking event out of our marina,” Mr. DeLuca said.

For the East End’s many summer visitors, he said, the best part may be that they do not have to head home at the end of the day.

Noting that visitors have, until now, had trouble finding rooms in the area, Mr. DeLuca said: “Now they have a full destination. People needed this.” TAMMY LA GORCE

Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center, 431 East Main Street, Riverhead. For admission and information: longislandaquarium.com and longislandexhibitioncenter.com or (631) 208-9200. Both the aquarium and the exhibition center are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

A version of this article appears in print on  , Section LI, Page 10 of the New York edition with the headline: Sharks, Butterflies and a Ballroom. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe

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